Jean-Pierre Huckler was elected president of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) on Saturday, the body announced at the end of its elective general assembly.
Appointed by the Steering Committee, Jean-Pierre Huckler was elected with 95.41% of the votes (excluding blank votes), announced the FFBB in a press release. “It’s a huge honor,” said the 65-year-old leader.
Former business leader, Jean-Pierre Huckler succeeds Jean-Pierre Siutat, of whom he was vice-president and right-hand man since his election to the presidency in 2010.
The new federal president congratulated his predecessor “for the immense work accomplished during his three mandates”. “He was able to develop the Federation, strengthen its expertise, its image and give a strong boost to French basketball,” said Jean-Pierre Huckler.
In 14 years under the direction of Jean-Pierre Siutat at the FFBB, the number of licensees has increased from around 460,000 during the 2010-2011 season to more than 725,000 last season, a record.
Since 2010, the French men's team has won its only major title during Eurobasket 2013 and has accumulated eight international medals to bring its list of achievements to 16, while the French women's team has gleaned ten in the same period, for a total of 16 as well.
During the Paris Games, where basketball brought home three silver medals (men's and women's 5×5 teams and men's 3×3 team), Jean-Pierre Siutat was at the heart of the news following a clash with the player Evan Fournier who had leaked to the press.
(Reporting by Vincent Daheron, editing by Benjamin Mallet)
France
Basketball
